by Barbara Mccutcheon

Created on: January 29, 2009

Occasional homework overload is not necessarily a problem. However if a child experiences frequent homework overload, or regularly has difficulty completing some or all homework assignments, it's time to step in, determine the problem and come up with a solution.

The first thing to keep in mind is that, for some students, school, and/or the trip home, can be very stressful. If this is the case, a timed break when they arrive home may be in order. The break should include a nutritious snack and an opportunity to engage in an activity he or she enjoys. This break can be any length, but should end no later than supper time. Consider starting with a one hour break and adjust it as needed.

Along with this, most students do best with a set schedule that defines free time, chore time, and homework time. This does not have to be the same every day. If the usual homework time is between supper and bedtime, but the child has a favorite television program on Tuesday evenings, then Tuesday's homework time can be swapped with the free time earlier in the day. Allowing some flexibility in the homework schedule gives children a small amount of control over part of their lives, which helps them develop confidence and responsibility.

Next, help the student organize their homework area. Some work best in a private area, while others do better where someone can keep an eye on them and/or someone is available to help with difficult assignments. Some need background noise and others need quiet. Be prepared to try several combinations of settings and backgrounds.

Some students become frustrated because they don't understand the material well enough to complete the assignment. In many cases they don't even understand enough to ask questions or they may be intimidated by the teacher. In these cases, enlist the teacher's help by proposing the following:

For each subject the child will spend 15 minutes working on an assignment. For the next 5 or 10 minutes the child will either finish the assignment or write a few questions about it. These will be given to the teacher along with the assignment. Ask the teacher to accept an incomplete assignment with questions as if it were a completed assignment. The teacher will probably agree as long as the questions are pertinent to the assignment and show that the child is making an effort.

At first, the child should be permitted a 5 to 10 minute break between subjects, but as stress levels decrease the break should be shortened and the work session should

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